3. At the outset, and with reference to the

allegations made against the SADF, I wish to

stress that neither Vaal Commando nor the SADF

were in any way involved in the attack in

Boipatong on the 17th of June 1992.

4. In order to enable me to do my internal

investigation, I conducted interviews with all

the people of Vaal Commando who were on duty on-

the night of the 17th and 18th of June 1992. -

5. Vaal Commando's role during the night of 17 to

18 June 1992 was as follows:

5.1 During the night of 17 June 1992,.

Lance Corporal Roberts and four other5

s o l d i e r s w e r e p a t r o l l i n g

Vanderbijlpark' s central business'

district, in a light duty vehicle.

During this patrol they received a

message from Vaal Cc nmando headquarters

that shots v;p.re heard in Boipatong. ,

Lance Corporal Roberts then proceeded

from the central business district to

Boipatong to investigate. When he

Collection Number: AK2672 Goldstone Commission BOIPATONG ENQUIRY Records 1990-1999 PUBLISHER: Publisher:- Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand Location:- Johannesburg ©2012

LEGAL NOTICES:

Copyright Notice: All materials on the Historical Papers website are protected by South African copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, or otherwise published in any format, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Provided that you maintain all copyright and other notices contained therein, you may download material (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal and/or educational non-commercial use only.

People using these records relating to the archives of Historical Papers, The Library, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, are reminded that such records sometimes contain material which is uncorroborated, inaccurate, distorted or untrue. While these digital records are true facsimiles of the collection records and the information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable, Historical Papers, University of the Witwatersrand has not independently verified their content. Consequently, the University is not responsible for any errors or omissions and excludes any and all liability for any errors in or omissions from the information on the website or any related information on third party websites accessible from this website.

This document is part of a private collection deposited with Historical Papers at The University of the Witwatersrand.  

arrived in Noble Boulevard he saw a

vehicle in flames opposite Boipatong,

on the eastern side thereof. He

proceeded closer to this vehicle to

investigate/ but saw that there was

nothing he could do. He reported the

incident to Vaal Commando. At the time

of this investigation everything was

quiet in the township. It must be

mentioned that the occurrence of

gunshots in this township at any given

time is not a rare occurrence and

happens quite often.

5.2 After this, Lance Corporal Roberts

proceeded with his normal patrol

duties. Whilst he was patrolling in

Dttnges street, Vanderbijlpark, he

heard gunfire from the direction of

Boipatong. He went back to this

township. He again proceeded down Noble

Boulevard but before he could come to

the point where the vehicle was

burning, he was stopped by a security

guard at Cape Gate.

0 7 /' 0 2 ” 7 : 3 1 S O i l 2 3 1 2 -4 ij R 0 U F1 I

5.3 As the soldiers alighted from their

vehicJ at Cape Gat© they heard shots

being fired in and from Boipatong.

5.4 Because of the fact that their vehicle

was not armoured, they took covetf

behind some boulders and contacted Vaal

Commando to send reinforcements.

5.5 Whilst they waited for reinforcements

to arrive, a black man c a m e running

from Boipatong to t h e m and said that

people were busy in Boipatong

commit t i n g acts of violence. Thi»

biack man was injured. The soldier*

sent thiB black man to Cape Gate’s

security office for m e d i c a l assistance^

5.6 Vaal commando sent a buffalo vehicle,

which was busy with patrol duty in the

vicinity of Kwa-Masisa hostel to assist

the soldiers who were at Cape Gate at

that time.

? 2 0 7/0 2 0 7 : 3 1 S O i l 2 3 1 * 2 4 g r o u p ;<: i

5.7 This buffalo military vehicle was under

control of Lance Corporal Odendaal. He

proceeded to Cape Gate. When he

arrived at the intersection at Frikkie

Meyer Boulevard and Noble Boulevard ha

turned into Noble Boulevard in the

direction of Boipatong. At this stage

he saw a large number of black people

in the veld next to Boipatong. r

Although he saw this group of black-

people in the veld, he noticed nothing-

untoward and decided to proceed and

pick up the soldiers at Cape Gate.

After he had picked them up, he moved

back along Noble Boulevard and again:

saw this group of black people in the

veld.

5.8 At this stage Odendaal saw that the

group of blacks were moving in the

direction of Frikkie Meyer Boulevard.

This wau also the direction of Kwa-

Madala hostel. Lance Corporal Odendaal

and the soldiers with him thought that

* 9 2 0 7 ^ 0 2 0 7: 32 S O i l 2 3 1 5 2 4 G R 0 U P X I

5.10

5.11

these people were on their way to Kwa-

Madala hoBtel.

At the crossing of Frikkie Meyer

Boulevard and Noble Boulevard, another

buffalo military vehicle of Vaal :

Commando, which had also been busy :

with patrol duties in the vicinity of

Kwa-Masisa hostel, joined Lance

Corporal Odendaal's buffalo. The \

lastmentioned buffalo vehicle was under

control of Corporal van Straaten.

Due to the fact that a large number of

black people intended crossing Frikkie

Meyer Boulevard, which is a busy ■

street, Corporal van Straaten decided

to block off the road for traffic, ?

wanting to proceed in the direction •

where uhe black people were crossing

the street.

Lance Corporal Odendaal's buffalo

vehicle proceeded from this

intersection to Kwa-Madala hostel.

- 6 -

07/0 2 0 7: 32 2 O i l 2 3 1 9 2 4 6 R 0 U P X I

5.12 During this time Major Jordaan of Vaal L

Commando as well as memberB of the SAP

joined this buffalo vehicle at Kwa- r-

Madala hostel. The SAP arrived in one

Casspir and one Nyala vehicle.

5.13 When the group of black people had

crossed Frikkie Meyer Boulevard t h e !

buffalo vehicle which blockaded the i

road at the intersection under the.

control of Corporal van Straaten, also

proceeded to Kwa-Madala hostel.

5.14 Members of both the SADF and the SAP.:

waited at Kwa-Madala hostel for a while:

to determine what the intentions were:

of this group of blackB that crossed:

the road in the direction of Kwa-Madala

hostel.

5.15 Thereafter Major Jordaan ordered one

buffalo vehicle to go and investigates

along Frikkie Meyer Boulevard what hadf '

happened to the group of people. In’

this regard it must be stressed that

the area adjacent to Frikkie Meyer

Boulevard, on the western Bide of

Frikkie Meyer Boulevard, is very

rugged terrain which is inaccessible by;-

vehicles. This area consists of dense;

reeds, dongas and ditches.

5.16 Various attempts were made to locate’

the group of people in this rugged:

area, but without success.

5.17 As nothing further happened, Major

Jordaan decided to withdraw all t h e .

military personnel and they all

proceeded back to Vaal Commando's-

headquarters in the early hours of the .

18th of June 1992.

I also wish to state that gunshots in this .

township is quite an usual occurrence.

The regional headquarters of the SADF in the

area, namely Group 17 were in fact requested "

2 O i l 2 3 1 5 2 4 6 F; 0 U P X I

- 9 -

to assist the police in Boipatong latar that

night.

DATED AT JOHANNESBURG ON THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY

1992

PIETER GABRIEL VAN WYK

f

m

0 1 / z e ' W 1 3 : 5 6 :Pg: 3

hiislnRfia ISrlHfliiM

a x s e n t O I Z 3Z 3 5 0 5 3 Bl/'ZO/’W l b .07

*F R Ic k :!TRO TO RESUME HEARING INTO BOIPATONtS i MASSACRE.___ .• J' i __ _ iN m lM #• <

Uist'iDuted via C AFRICA NEWS

OZA Internet '* gry,^3.19W ) - Thirteen infcatha Fr«do;n Party member* will AmnJsly Committee 6f'th* TRC next w w k foi their role In the attack killing

idantBOi1! June 1 7 .19S0.: !: ■ ,, iibout 200 rrisn armed With automatic rifle* end other weapon* from Kwamaaaia tt e Boipatong lownaNp. Residents wore hacked, erased, shot, beaten and

,4i9ftacr<!I... . . _______

Matlona) Party leader FW «e Klefk and the ANC.

01/14/89 SOUTH Johannesburg (W appear before thi >Boipatong rosid ants oiji Junia 17 .19£0 O n the ovening, hoslel attacked disemboweled.TTie Boipating m between former The partly heard Rcwoatlona! Cluf>Th« hearing was The appilCBt'nn*Mhale w«p«

During thio tino, applicant is fceeki otner*.Zuko Mapoma wl I la id fevideinoe during tfv* hearing. Copyright 1999 V/— ' ' "■‘ “

, inV an d art> ijlp a fk .i , ; ' , ; } f - fas t h w d on July 6 las t.ye» r a t th e Sobokun'y C o li*c « o f E duca tion ,

f V I f ^ M th a n d a n lM lh ^m b u , V incen t-K hanyile , M hluphekl S habangu a n d Jeok fir'He

ng amh*!*ty for W* aiiftjji

v t y i I I I 0 I I U V H I f»11*)y i w 11 iwvi •» " rI iW NiuaJlng ported* .My ft Vi H anrl Alioiist 1 1 1t) 14 l i l t VCIfr Jio amnoctv* appdctitiortpf Andres NrsfiAnoa Wflfi Introduce W tn« parcel. Theng amn**ty for W * ailetfw involvermenl In the floipalong maksntfe amongst

\I02A ntemot. Distributed via Africa Nows Online.

! I "•OMTEXNews iERVlGB 14/01/16M

page 1

D 1 Z 3 Z 3 5 B 5 B

•il: ii.: J.i '.<V: i: !• : iASlftij'V:..1 : 'I H: '• <:•:• 2§.'- i 1

\w \ja+ ;

/W*->cd^: Arwn

ecsacre.1 Kew evidence link; IF? to SAP

K i ̂ - W i p C R i l JtPK&K t A ;dVMjMttici ft»w version of the events :of the *££< B»»sae:u . [. , i .; ;:>:T

/: ;... soib*£< •■' *-' i\ev '

I B ; 07

Soipatong

in the Vapl1 Triangle irt June 1592 wa£ given t-n the Truth a:id

Recons;,l let lion i* : /?];. .j . iconuftisidojfi'B h i r i n g here yesterday,A foritur inmito of KwaMadala hcstel.jwho ha* adLTittOd being Pert of the

attack i • j. i • : '.I ■ Hon the BoSak'tong comxuriity, handed *; itatement to the 1'RC's .imneSty commiti e e '. | ’ . • J- . j !implicit ingfthe police^and senior Jnkatha Preedcn Party officials. Andrie; Mat^nzirr.a Neiehibfa/ 25, handed in a separata afnre.ity ipplictticnto there .: j !• • . ; >.••!; j . i • I •of 1$ i o m c r hostel dwellers who have applied fcr amnesty fo| the massacj e, ; : i |cutiining e 1 different chaih of events to thosn glvftn by Die (kliet applici nti j. j:j • ! i : ’ ' !Noseng* el* i.m* 'he joined the i f p and i.ioved into KwaMailals hostel after foiling j; j ; ■ j jcut with AS'C fmeri’bers ift’-Evfct'cn in the Vaal Trianqle.He saic IFP Gauteng leader Themba Kho?a was a frequent visitcj: hostel̂ I j i \ ;X ! !and that he played a na^or role in planning the massacre.Describing;<j jrieetihg at, the hostel ihertly before the 1 jr. a * i said ! j !Khoza snd former murder and robbery police sergeant P^dro Pea; present t : ! i.: !•:,"[• : i

r.as i& c r

r<* told to qa to Boipctouy and kill

r to the

e, Noseng*

ns were

the dog s .

I

'During tn̂ meeting W*Khoza ' i ifsaid a isrtliijth insect. should be killed "He said hostfal l*ad*r« |t tjhe meeting agreed that the residents should be kill >d ' | j;:.because they ware not human. Poans agreed to supply police Cajsapir vehicle ? fcjff- ;jkl "'r.hu attick.j

i iy

i -ar Scipatong, a i he -Wiled (fight

Nceenga aai.c. that <̂ n thi night o£ the attack he saw about feu

E .in a field n He said <Mred o about l;Nosenga collect weapons a month

later h« attfcrtdod a ral^y hold in Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal to ielebritethsf success

d also saw P?»nj shopt.lng at resident br nine people hi^.colf dueing t)*6 att *ek and

^ |: ■ ; ili : •• • I'0 rounds from aij AK-4T rifle,said on the follpwing day Khota returned to the hostetheused in the attack, and preised the people who t&ok part. About

Casspirs

to

qS the attack̂■VI!

us fcr tho good |jOb we oarriecj out in Boipatong, " Nosemga said.■•jo:acrej took place pn June 17, 1992 after tension between InV.atha

ppor|ing hoptel .'idwellcro ar,d tjhe residents of the Boittatona

ANc |upf>ortera, Erupted into Violence. j !ily-Armed party p i rrp ovpport'ers entered the township at nifht

"The leader fe£ the 1FP,'f(Mangosuthu) Suthelezi, gave a speechhe " 1 .....thanked The mass Freedom Pacty-a-.towns hij. iargolyThs heavand

in which

rg:

1rax s e m uy

" “ M MO I Z 3 Z 3 5 0 3 0

% ■■ ri y■!; 1'1 r I • ::p' • ! *.'• '• v v ■

i t■*.J. -I', ii iVX1 *'K V&'f*>8VM'J £|

fl ••••:• j :s.o-.K i ; ' ■' >

'K feV.

'/'V.'-tlH'.'

M i l• ' .V '!: ' I )..••:

>i'R’

I» .• ; >•?,•: •_

liL >|] :

•:

If

■■ '. V.V*.' ,•’ ■ ■ , V-4-, 5■ '•.x-tK'rv; ±3-yn mS I ®i 3 S ju m u

: ?c»i ■. • <jTj ■.

v & H :m m -: • % : .■ • ii0̂ J .. i ’•

c*rri*<i cue, random on resid-nra, resulting in’ the de »th of <6

paaple and jj j: !_ ' | ; :; ?r

NoseneirhBof^iieal,^ tji th« TRC for protection bec*u*« ho claims he has

receiv death Peer.s eppftar when t

>(d : !: ;hrea is b|

All Mi' $ copyright lnd«pendont Newspapers 1996.;

Survsy

"i: !

W-im : .., * . ">'* i/: . j

: ■ .■• ■ i,

-hi i ;•;{■• !* ■ • ‘ ;

i I

FW-7HS 01/rZ0<''33

kJ 1

1 6 ; o r

: 'iViI • .1 • ;■ "i . ,> s '■!' i

jtiii'His! jrefliisst is bein? tonsidared by t r c b£fic.t.il*.'Sfltnsupccfiftjld to testify it tho hearing, end ie *:cp*ct«d to

iq hesrin? resumo* today. Sapa

U.-

^fit’S j .;]■ Now cMafcl-j©vtebmaater Help Info S**rifh category ihdax ! Sir ■

I. !r \ ;

i; I ’ i:■ .;ai

II • :I . •

: i\V . - ■■

I;

II i

!' r i; i

l; i I

ill i !!• i- ;

S U ;• i i

. • r

rg; z* ! ■.;i

■'I i; » » • 4a

j Dag en datum;'* ' Day of week & c

T -£ 2 $ M i I M

Dag" en datum:-^ '3 Day of week & dale:jV0LGNrf£ SERIAL No. ~

/M r'-s'y--'/

vs M d l s ; Z (/ }S { '. / u C v -y V/Vl

m k m

*0*9 en datumf ' Dayo| w eek& dal^: fjrtvbOB'Nf^ ♦'SERIAL No. •AAROVAN VOOftV^

C L X K A .J

y L ^ <

BUkDSYNRJPiDag'en datum;D a y ja tw e **d a te ;y -^